Improbable Research

Breaking News and Broken Features

For most of the items added in 2004 (and beyond), see our blog -- the new What's New

These items are based on standard research (and other Official and Therefore Always Correct) literature. Many of the other articles in AIR, mini-AIR, and HotAIR are genuine, too, but we don't know which ones.

• May We Recommend
• Coming Events
• The Science of G. Bush
• Ig Nobel Follow-Ups
• Research Questions
• Sports Reports
• Foreign Correspondence, and Lost & Found
• For Experts
• Re-Discovery (AIR's exclusive, not necessarily humorous column about overlooked science)
• Reviews of Books, CDs, Films, etc.

Got a citation you'd recommend we recommend? Please tell our editor about it: [email protected]

For a complete listing of all the HotAIR featured articles, see Whats New.

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May We Recommend

Items that merit a trip to the library (or some other good place)

• [November 3, 2003] Psychotherapeutic-Spiritual Revivification (HotAIR exclusive)
• [March 3, 2003] Uri's Televised Adoption Plan (HotAIR exclusive)
• [February 24 2003] FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE -- The Producers (HotAIR Exclusive)
• [January 15, 2003] Stimulating Stimulating Research (HotAIR exclusive)
• [January 13, 2003] Analysis of Laughter (Part 2 of 2) (HotAIR exclusive)
• [January 8, 2003] Analysis of Laughter (Part 1 of 2) (HotAIR exclusive)
• [January 6, 2003] Three Takes on Tickling (HotAIR exclusive)
• [January 1, 2003] Michael Jackson Surgery (HotAIR exclusive)
• [December 27, 2002] BODY OF WORK - P. Brugger (Part 2) (HotAIR exclusive)
• [December 23, 2002] BODY OF WORK - P. Brugger (Part 1) (HotAIR exclusive)
• [December 16, 2002] On Sneezing (HotAIR exclusive)
• [December 13, 2002] Three Aspects of the Nose (HotAIR exclusive)
• [December 9, 2002] Shopping on the Brain (HotAIR exclusive)
• [December 6, 2002] New Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club members! (HotAIR exclusive)
• [December 4, 2002] Edison's Research on Nonverbal Communications (HotAIR exclusive)
• [December 2, 2002] Edison's Research on Sibling Rivalry (HotAIR exclusive)
• [November 29, 2002] Edison's Research on Podiatric Stoichiometry (HotAIR exclusive)
• [November 27, 2002] New Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club members! (HotAIR exclusive)
• [November 25, 2002] Bonjour from Benveniste (HotAIR exclusive)
• [November 22, 2002] The Anti-Money Conference (HotAIR exclusive)
• [November 20, 2002] Edison's Research on Beard Removal (HotAIR exclusive)
• [November 18, 2002] Newly added Scholarly Romance Restaurants (HotAIR exclusive)
• [November 15, 2002] Edison's Research on Human Topology (HotAIR exclusive)
• [November 13, 2002] Edison's Research on Newtonian Motion (HotAIR exclusive)
• [November 11, 2002] Edison's Research on Sneezing (HotAIR exclusive)
• November 8, 2002] Procrastinating for the Holidays (HotAIR exclusive)
• [November 6, 2002] Edison's Research on the Pull of Gravity (HotAIR exclusive)
• [November 1, 2002] Edison's Research on Group Psychology (HotAIR exclusive)
• [October 28, 2002] Kimi (HotAIR exclusive)
• [October 23, 2002] Edison's Nutrition/Animal Research (HotAIR exclusive)
• [October 18, 2002] Edison's Foot Itch Research (HotAIR exclusive)
• [October 14, 2002] A Salute to the Horse (HotAIR exclusive)
• [October 9, 2002] Edison's Smoking Research (HotAIR exclusive)
• [September 30, 2002] The Pleasures of the Silent Whistle (HotAIR exclusive)
• [September 27, 2002] The Directional Boring Advantage (HotAIR exclusive)
• [September 25, 2002] Thong Laterality Theory (HotAIR exclusive)
• [September 20, 2002] Babe Ruth Psychology (HotAIR exclusive)
• [September 16, 2002] Mint Rubbing (HotAIR exclusive)
• [September11, 2002] Marvels and Pipes (HotAIR exclusive)
• [September 09, 2002] Jane Fondaesque Considerations in Two Species (HotAIR exclusive)
• [September 06, 2002] Animal Tricks (HotAIR exclusive)
• [September 04, 2002] Eggmaking (HotAIR exclusive)
• [September 02, 2002] Fat and Dust (HotAIR exclusive)
• [ August 12, 2002] Lightning on Demand (HotAIR exclusive)
• [ August 9, 2002] Shatner’s Tambourine (HotAIR exclusive)
• [ August 7, 2002] The Military Cookie (HotAIR exclusive)
• [ August 5, 2002] The Virtual Colon (HotAIR exclusive)
• [ August 2, 2002] Sleep Eating (HotAIR exclusive)
• [July 31, 2002] Fingerprint Art (Xmas Tree) (HotAIR exclusive)
• [July 29, 2002] Fingerprint Art (Snowdrop Flower) (HotAIR exclusive)
• [July 26, 2002] Fingerprint Art (Roses) (HotAIR exclusive)
• [July 24, 2002] Fingerprint Art (Pirate) (HotAIR exclusive)
• [July 22, 2002] Fingerprint Art (Pig) (HotAIR exclusive)
• [July 19, 2002] Fingerprint Art (Devil) (HotAIR exclusive)
• [July 17, 2002] Fingerprint Art (Bananas) (HotAIR exclusive)
• [July 12, 2002] Smashing Antiquities (HotAIR exclusive)
• [June 26, 2002] Wadded Up Paper (HotAIR exclusive)
• [May 17, 2002] The Rat & Mouse Gazette (HotAIR exclusive)
• [April 17, 2002] Zwaadermaker Conjugates (HotAIR exclusive)
• [April 12, 2002] Aircraft Maintenance / Missionary Aviation (M & F) (HotAIR exclusive)
• [March 6, 2002] Adventures in Adult Education - Making Pizzas & Orgasms (HotAIR exclusive)
• [February 20, 2002] Recommending Alex Chiu (HotAIR exclusive)
• [February 13, 2002] The Science of Romantic Love (HotAIR exclusive)
• [February 11, 2002] The Theory of Dynamic Meetings (HotAIR exclusinve)
• [January 21, 2002] The Newest, Bestest Oxygen (HotAIR exclusive)
• [January 18, 2002] Math -- Aunty, Anti, Cool, and Hot (HotAIR exclusive)
• [January 16, 2002] Eye-Catching Eye Movements (HotAIR Exclusive)
• [January 9, 2002] How To Welcome a New Lab Member (HotAIR exclusive)
• [January 7, 2002] Adult Human Male Reactions to Boxing Felines (HotAIR exclusive)
• [January 4, 2002] Our Favorite Pharmacistical/Medical/Scientifical Calendars (HotAIR exclusive)
• [December 19, 2001] A Collection of Christmas Science (Part 2 of 2) (HotAIR exclusive)
• [December 10, 2001] A Collection of Christmas Science (Part 1 of 2) (HotAIR exclusive)
• [December 7, 2001] A Collection of Ramadan Science (HotAIR exclusive)
• [November 23, 2001] The Cosmic Finger of Friendship (HotAIR exclusive)
• [November 2, 2001] Greasing This and That (HotAIR exclusive)
• [October 31, 2001] Unexpected Adventures With the Digestive (HotAIR exclusive)
• [October 29, 2001] Stupidity Research (HotAIR exclusive)
• [October 26, 2001] Provocative Perspectives on Healing (HotAIR exclusive)
• [October 24, 2001] Drum Research (HotAIR exclusive)
• [October 8, 2001] Matters of Comfort (HotAIR exclusive)
• [October 1, 2001] This and That About Hair (HotAIR exclusive)
• more>

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Coming Events (Present and Past)

Spectacles worth seeing (and please also see the schedule of AIR events)

• [April 10, 2002] The Dung Conference (HotAIR exclusive)
• [December 17, 2001] Time Cube (HotAIR Exclusive)
• [March 16, 2001] A New Anti-Quackery Tool? (HotAIR exclusive)
• [February 7, 2001] Poeticality in the World of Computer Science (HotAIR Exclusive)
• [January 8, 2001] Lab Coats, Safety Goggles, and a Strapless Evening Dress (HotAIR Exclusive)
• [June 16, 2000] Standing Symbolism (HotAIR exclusive)
• [Apr 27, 2000] Sludge Cake Gala (HotAIR exclusive)

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Ig Nobel Follow-ups

New achievements of past Ig Nobel Prize Winners
(note: for lots more, see our blog)

• [June 2004] Troy's Blast Cushion Stands Proud (HotAIR exclusive)
• [May 2004] Troy and the Magnetic Blast Cushion (HotAIR exclusive)
• [April 2004] Troy's Bear Suits To Be Auctioned on Ebay (HotAIR exclusive)
• [December 8, 2003] Modern Kids Don't Smile When They Visit Santa (HotAIR exclusive)
• [October 22, 2003] Flameproof Troy (HotAIR exclusive)
• [November 25, 2002] Bonjour from Benveniste (HotAIR exclusive)
• [September 18, 2002] Troy Meets Not Quite a Bulldozer, and Vice Versa (HotAIR exclusive)
• [July 8, 2002] Troy Meets a Bulldozer, and Vice Versa (HotAIR exclusive)
• [May 8, 2002] Troy's New Bear Suit (HotAIR exclusive)
• [January 28, 2002] The Return of Nick the Rogue Trader (HotAIR Exclusive)
• [January 14, 2002] 40,000 Yogic Flyers Can't Be Wrong (HotAIR exclusive)
• [January 2, 2002] Troy, Oil, and the Balance of Power (HotAIR exclusive)
• [December 31, 2001] Troy and the Terrorists (HotAIR exclusive)
• [December 12, 2001] When Troy Met a Kodiak Bear (HotAIR exclusive)
• [November 28, 2001] Troy versus a Kodiak Bear (HotAIR Exclusive)
• [January 10, 2001] Toilet Collapse Victim (HotAIR exclusive)

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Research Questions

Mysteries of great interest

• [April 18, 2003] Samuel "Marshmallow" Pepys (HotAIR exclusive)
• [August 30, 2002] Strife About Rife (HotAIR exclusive)
• [May 27, 2002] Prestige? (HotAIR exclusive)
• [March 22, 2002] No Accounting for Accounting Nos? (HotAIR exclusive)
• [March 15, 2002] Heat From Nuts? (HotAIR exclusive)
• [February 25, 2002] Fathom the Ideas? (HotAIR exclusive)
• [January 14, 2002] 40,000 Yogic Flyers Can't Be Wrong (HotAIR exclusive)
• [January 11, 2002] The Mystery Blob (HotAIR exclusive)
• [December 26, 2001] Who Is Most Likely to Be Awarded a MacArthur Fellowship?
• [November 14, 2001] Why Do Science? That's Entertainment! (HotAIR exclusive)
• [August 22, 2001] Can It Get Any Simpler Than This? (Chapter 43) (HotAIR Exclusive)
• [July 30, 2001] What is the Rife Resonator? (from AIR 4-5)
• [July 27, 2001] Can Anyone Match Cornog? (HotAIR Exclusive)
• [July 23, 2001] How Valuable Was Albert Einstein? (HotAIR exclusive)
• [July 11, 2001] Spaghetti Innovations (HotAIR Exclusive)
• [May 18, 2001] The Astrology Gap (HotAIR Exclusive)
• [May 11, 2001] Analysis of Dirty Pictures By-the-Numbers? (HotAIR Exclusive)
• [April 9, 2001] You Go, Girl (HotAIR Exclusive)
• [January 18, 2001] White House Height Requirement (HotAIR Exclusive)
• more >

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Sports Reports

The lusty, competitive side of research

• [Apr 24, 2000] FatPhooeys Score Big Against FiberFabs (HotAIR exclusive)
• [Mar 10, 2000] Darksiders Drop Pair to Nightsiders (HotAIR exclusive)

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Foreign Correspondence, and Lost & Found

Messages received, oddities that caught our eye, etc.

• [September 2003] The Chicken Must Come First
• [February 24, 2003] The Producers (HotAIR Exclusive)
• [August 28, 2002] A Call for Acronyms (HotAIR Exclusive)
• [May 10, 2002] A Rejected Article (HotAIR exclusive rejection)
• [July 13, 2001] Celebrity Nutritionist and Writer (Chapter 7)(HotAIR Exclusive)
• [May 2, 2001] Celebrity Nutritionist and Writer (Chapter 6) (HotAIR exclusive)
• [April 25, 2001] Celebrity Nutritionist and Writer (Chapter 5) (HotAIR exclusive)
• [April 20, 2001] Clean My Diamonds (Chapter 2). (HotAIR exclusive)
• [April 16, 2001] Clean My Diamonds... (HotAIR exclusive)
• [March 9, 2001] His Heartening Cheat... (HotAIR exclusive)
• [March 5, 2001] Ah, Nature! (HotAIR exclusive)
• [February 21, 2001] Celebrity Nutritionist and Writer (Chapter 4) (HotAIR exclusive)
• [February 9, 2001] Celebrity Nutritionist and Writer (Chapter 3) (HotAIR exclusive)
• [January 17, 2001] Non Drinking & Serene Habits (HotAIR exclusive)
• [January 12, 2001] Harold in Charge (HotAIR exclusive)
• [January 10, 2001] Toilet Collapse Victim (HotAIR exclusive)
• [January 3, 2001] FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE UPDATE UPDATE: Celebrity Nutritionist (HotAIR Exclusive)
• more >

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For Experts

Expertise worth marveling at

• [July 10, 2002] Woodpecker No, Gunfire Yes (HotAIR exclusive)
• [May 9, 2001] Optics Commission Prize Goes to Hell (HotAIR Exclusive)
• [November 20, 2000] Water Prevents Dehydration (HotAIR Exclusive)
• [November 17, 2000] A Salute to K. Harris (HotAIR Exclusive)
• [September 4, 2000] Middle East Peace Solution Complications (HotAIR Exclusive)
• [August 11, 2000] Middle East Peace Solution (HotAIR Exclusive)
• [July 5, 2000] How to Fix a Broken Printer (HotAIR Exclusive)

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Re-Discovery

AIR's exclusive, not necessarily humorous column about overlooked science

• [from AIR 6:3] RE-DISCOVERY -- To Sea, and Not to See
• [from AIR 6:2] RE-DISCOVERY -- Sonneborn and the Persistently Shapely Paramecia

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Reviews of Books, CDs, Films, etc.

Improbably perceptive reviews of improbable materials
If an item marked with a double-star (**), the review is written by the author of the book

• [October 30, 2002] Heads Up! A Book for Happy Müttering (HotAIR Exclusive)
• [August 13, 2001] AUTHORITATIVE BOOK REVIEW™-- "Problems of Vision" (HotAIR exclusive) (**)
• [September 13, 2000] Deadly Poisons for Everyone (HotAIR exclusive)
• [August 25, 2000] Subtle, Intentional, Conscious? (HotAIR exclusive)
• [August 7, 2000] NEW BUREAUCRACY BOOK REVIEWS by N.N. Peebles (Bureaucratic Review exclusive)
• [August 4, 2000] Manhattan Research, Inc. (HotAIR exclusive)
• [July 24, 2000] Clear Your Clutter With Feng Shui (HotAIR exclusive)
• [June 16, 2000 THE BUREAUCRATIC REVIEW (reviews fo Bureaucratic books -- always being updated)
• [June 14, 2000] Blood, Sweat, and Gears (HotAIR exclusive)

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